Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Robotic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: May 29, 2015
Is ganglionated plexus ablation effective for treating atrial fibrillation?
Michiko Watanabe1, Hiroki Kohno2, Yusuke Kondo3
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. uenishi-m@hotmail.co.jp.
Purpose:
Very few studies have investigated the efficacy of ganglionated plexus ablation during the conventional maze procedure. In this study, we sought to evaluate its additive effect in reducing recurrent atrial fibrillation after concomitant maze surgery.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted of 79 patients who underwent Cox maze IV concomitantly with open-heart surgery with (GP group) or without (Maze group) ganglionated plexus mapping. All active ganglionated plexuses were ablated. The two groups were compared and their follow-up data were analyzed.
Results:
Active ganglionated plexuses were found in 81% of patients who underwent ganglionated plexus mapping. The rates of freedom from atrial fibrillation at 1 year in the GP and Maze groups were 77 and 75%, respectively. The cumulative freedom from atrial fibrillation at follow-up (27.7 ± 17.3 months) was comparable in the two groups (p = 0.427). A multivariate analysis revealed that persistent atrial fibrillation for more than 90 months was an independent predictor of recurrent atrial fibrillation.
Conclusion:
Ganglionated plexus ablation with Cox maze IV did not reduce the incidence of recurrent atrial fibrillation in comparison to Maze alone.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
Amyloid Fibrils
Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Spinal Nerves: Plexus I
The Cervical Plexus
The cervical plexus, formed by the anterior rami of the first four...
Spinal Nerves: Plexus II
The Lumbar Plexus
The lumbar plexus is situated within the lumbar region of the back and is primarily formed by the first four lumbar spinal nerves (L1 to L4). This plexus extends its branches into several nerves, including the...
Buffer Effectiveness
The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given volume...

